Chapter 11

Thursday was a nice sunny day so I was able to run after my other exercises. Homeroom was the normal start of the school day routine. The only difference was the announcement of an assembly after lunch on Friday. The game was afoot!

At lunchtime, the gang talked the plans over. I think we were all afraid to chicken out. Cheryl was looking forward to it the most as she would be leaving the school next week. She was still friendly with me, but I noticed she didn’t seem to be pining away from the prospect of moving on. To be fair she had to do this many times, and I never had.

After school, I went home and was typing up an essay in the basement. The other kids were playing Mr. Potato Head. They were getting very argumentative and loud. Mum came downstairs and issued a warning.

“Quiet down, I don’t want to hear one more peep out of you!”

As she was going back upstairs we all looked at each other. Wondering who would break first. It was Mary, with a grin she went to.

“Peep.”

It was in a clear soprano and loud.

We all laughed, but from upstairs came.

“Richard Edward Jackson one more sound out of you, and you have had it!”

Now that was totally unfair! I hadn’t caused the first problem, I didn’t peep, at least this time. Why was I getting the blame?

As I thought about the total unfairness of life I thought I heard muffled laughter from upstairs. To add insult to injury my saucy little sister stuck her tongue out at me. This was too much to bear. She was about to die, from tickling. She saw her fate coming and ran up the stairs. It only saved her for a minute.

She tried to hide behind Mum, but that didn’t work. I seized the little wretch and tickled her until I thought she was about to pee her pants. Only then did I let up. Mary didn’t hesitate she ran back downstairs leaving me to face the wrath of Mum. Only there was no wrath.

She just said, “I trust you will always look out for your little sister.”

“Of course Mum.”

“Orwell had it right you know. People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Mary is one of the good people. You will be one of the rough men.”

Now, what do you say to that especially when it is your own mother telling you that? I said nothing.

She started to return sticking S&H green stamps in books but stopped and added.

“There is an article in TV guide that might interest you.”

Now I seldom read anything in the TV guide. On occasion, I would look up when a game was on but that was about it. I never read their articles.

She continued, “Read about Paul Grant.”

I found the guide in its usual place in the family room. The article on Paul Grant and his hit TV show, The Outlaw Kid, told how the young star was going to have the second lead in an upcoming movie with John Wayne. They openly speculated how the difficult young man would get along with Mr. Wayne.

He had a reputation of being late for shoots, not knowing his lines, being ill a lot, I think that meant hungover. Then there were his hangers-on, three or four other guys would accompany him everywhere. They thought they were God’s gift to women. He and his gang sounded like a real pain. I guess I would have to work with him.